Change Your Image
ukstevej
Reviews
The Cuckoo (2024)
Garbage, complete garbage
Quite possibly the worst 'drama' I've ever seen. There are so many things going on that simply wouldn't happen in reality it makes a mockery of genuine drama. I've read that by the end we're supposed to empathise with 'Sian', (I'm writing after 3 episodes) but I can't think of any character I've ever disliked more. Whatever her backstory, there is no excuse for her actions. Whilst Lee Ingleby and Claire Goose are good actors who can usually be relied on to turn in an accomplished, believable performance, here they are hampered by a myriad plot holes and very clunky dialogue. Jill Halfpenny basically plays Jill Halfpenny, as she has done in anything I've seen her in. All told, very disappointing. (2 stars for the location).
After Life (2019)
Genius. And scarily true to life
Ricky Gervaise has hit the bullseye again with this show. Brilliantly drawn characters, humour when/where you least expect it and true pathos. The scary bit is that I know 100% that if my wife passed away I'd react in exactly the same way that Tony does. Ricky himself is excellent in the lead role but he is expertly supported by the rest of the cast, both regulars and those appearing only once or twice. I know Ricky was in two minds about whether to do a third series, but I'm so glad he did. It rounded off his story, and others, perfectly. Without giving too much away, the final scene is as perfect an ending as I've ever seen. Genius.
Derek (2012)
A work of absolute genius
There really is little more I can say. The writing is superb, the characters brilliantly drawn and the cast excellent. Funny, sad, compassionate, raw. Wonderful.
Lightning (2021)
Quite possibly the worst quiz show ever
Where to start? Zoe Lyons clearly can't do unscripted stuff - her conversations with contestants are painful, and her reading of the questions is far too slow. The contestants? Err, those in series 1 were not exactly blessed with a surfeit of general knowledge, were they? And at least let them change their clothes for each episode.